Ono-dake is situated at the south of the Aizu Basin. It is located on a prominent position to the Aga River with Ooto-dake and has the shape of a cup upside down, so we can recognize this mountain easily from Yunogami hot spring.

  There are two trails to climb this mountain. One is from Ono-kannon temple close to Yunogami hot spring, and the other is from Oouchi village where there is a row of thatched old houses used as inns during Edo period. These houses and streets have been well preserved as "Oouchi-syuku" until now and have drawn many sightseers. Ono-kannoni route is harder for hikers than Oouti-route. It takes about 3 hours.

  You drive the route 121 up along the Aga River. Take a turn to the right before a bridge spanning the Ono valley and soon met a junction. The right road brings you up to Ono-kannon. There is an open space for parking near the temple with a famous kannon statue.There is a signboard on the left side of a forestry track beside the temple.

  Walking up gently through a cedar forest for 10 minute to a small pass, the trail turns right and follows along mountain slope to another signboard.

  From here, the true climb for Ono-dake starts. The right trail zigzags up the steep slope through a planted cedar forest first. After 30 minute climb, the cedar forest changes into a mixed natural forest of beech, Japanese oak and chestnut trees.

  On the south slope of this mountain, there is no deep valley and clear ridge, so the trail only zigzags up the slope up to the top area.

  The top area is covered with a virgin forest. The trail swings to the east gradually and heads up for the top gently. Just before reaching the top, Japanese birch trees begin to appear around.

  The trail suddenly comes out from the bushy forest to an open clearing. Going right a bit, you will find a triangular stone structure of 1383 meters. Going left a bit, there is a small stone shrine and some signboards, on which the number of hikers joined the open ceremony in each year is written.

  A great view of the Ookawa dum and Ooto-dake(1416m) can be seen to the east. There is another trail stretching ahead to the south that goes down to Oouti-shuku.

  On my way down, I enjoyed picking up lots of chestnuts.